Explore Black History

late 19th-late 20th century

2011.12.20ab: A vanity with a detached mirror from the Rock Rest Tourist Home.
2011.12.20a: A vanity from the Rock Rest Tourist Home. The vanity is primarily constructed from burl wood with a dark finish. The bottom section of the vanity features a flat, rectangular surface with beveled edges and two built-in front drawers. The vanity also has four thin legs, that are squared at the top and taper towards the feet. The front legs are reinforced with carved, L-shaped, decorative brackets that reinforce the joint between the leg and the front bottom of the vanity. Plain, triangle-shaped brackets are similarly attached on the back of the vanity. The vanity’s drawer fronts are burl wood with a black, oval shaped inlays at the center. The inlays are embellished with two, painted, five petal flowers, orange and pink, framed by leaves. Each drawer has two, round, wooden drawer pulls. Between the front and back legs, on the sides of the vanity, are carved, arch-shaped, decorative leg braces. The back of the vanity is plain but has the two, small wooden pieces that attach the vanity to the mirror. The pieces are held in place with several metal screws.
2011.12.20b: The mirror section of a vanity from the Rock Rest Tourist Home. The mirror is constructed with four wooden pieces: a frame for the mirror glass, a base, and two carved brackets that flank either side of the mirror. All four pieces are medium and dark finished burl wood. The mirror is roughly tablet shaped and set within the thin wooden frame. The frame has a center flute that runs around the entire frame. The base is thin and extends beyond the mirror on either side. The carved brackets bookending each side of the mirror are L-shaped with carved wave shapes at the base. The back of the mirror is solid medium finished wood. Adhered to the top center of the wooden mirror backing is a blue and white adhesive label that reads [MARGESON’S / SPECIALISTS IN / HOME FURNISHINGS / PORTSMOUTH N.H.] in the blue section at the top and blank fillable lines for [No.], [Finish], [Lot], and [Style] in the white section below. At the base, there are two light patches to the left and right of the where there mirror detached from the vanity.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

The Rock Rest Tourist Home Collection

Furnishings, Housewares, and Décor

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2011.12.20ab

mirrors
dressing tables

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2011.12.20a: paint and varnish on wood and metal
2011.12.20b: varnish on wood and reflective glass

H x W x D (2011.12.12a): 32 1/4 × 46 1/8 × 19 7/8 in. (81.9 × 117.2 × 50.5 cm)
H x W x D (2011.12.12b): 30 1/2 × 40 × 2 in. (77.5 × 101.6 × 5.1 cm)

Object Name • Vanity from the Rock Rest Tourist Home

nmaahc_2011.12.20ab

NMAAHC

VANITY FROM THE ROCK REST TOURIST HOME

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1880s • 1970s

Margeson Brothers Furniture Store • Sinclair, Clayton • Sligh Furniture Company • Sinclair, Hazel • Rock Rest Tourist Home

United States • Maine • North and Central America • Kittery • New Hampshire • York County • Portsmouth • Rockingham County • Michigan

Description and travel • Black Enterprise • Black interiors • Recreation • Segregation • Business

City • Kittery • County • York County • State • Maine • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • State • Michigan • City • Portsmouth • County • Rockingham County • State • New Hampshire

dressing tables • Mirrors

Images

No Known Copyright Restrictions